Wisdom of the Ages

Good Bye or So Long...

As we approach the end of another year I am also approaching the end of my writing a blog. I've been doing this faithfully for three years. It has been a labor of love and I appreciate your being on my “list” but this seems like the right time to move on. If interested, you can re-read my postings in the archive section and I hope you will. If you’re like me, you will get something different and new from reading them again.

Does January 1st mean New Years Resolutions for you? Is this the time of the year when you make a list of what you will, and what you won’t, do during the coming year? I think it's good to reflect on the past and look to the future- as long as we make sure we live only in the present.

One of my resolutions is one I make every year; “Don't give advice unless it is asked for.” I plan to follow that - as soon as I finish this blog. The dictionary says advice is ”an opinion given about what to do or how to behave,” and a suggestion is “to cause an idea or possibility to be present in the mind.” I hope what follows will be considered suggestions, not advice. I found this in my “Good Stuff” file folder and feel this is an appropriate time to share some of my resolutions with you. Feel free to borrow any, or all, of these for yourself:

In the coming year, I promise - To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person I meet. To make all my friends feel there is something special to them (because there is). To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature I meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of myself that I have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Every now and then I re-read the following “Fourteen Rules to Live By” that I have in my office. Since I'm being personal in this blog I thought I'd share them with you also.

3. Get your priorities straight. No one ever said on his deathbed,” Gee, if only I'd spent more time at the office.”

4. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

5. Don't flaunt your success - but don't apologize for it either.

6. Take care of your reputation. It's your most valuable asset.

7. Battle against discrimination wherever you find it.

8. Be brave - and even when you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.

9. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.

10. Whenever someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.

11. Never deprive someone of hope. It may be all they have.

I'm sure you could add to this lis. Do it. Make your own list, put it somewhere safe and read it from time to time. From my heart to your heart - May 2016 bring you many opportunities and the wisdom, strength and courage to take advantage of them.

And finally - one last time - But wait, there’s more:

Abraham Maslow’s Top three qualities of self-actualization:

Be independent of the opinions of others.

Be detached from the outcome.

Have no investment in power or control over others. Allow people to be who they are and get on with who you are.